THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The appeals hearing in the Blaskic Case before the Hague war crimes tribunal continued on Tuesday with the questioning of Philip Watkins, a Briton from the European Community's Monitoring Mission who
often met with the defendant, central Bosnian Operations Zone commander Tihomir Blaskic, during his 1993 term in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The appeals hearing in the Blaskic
Case before the Hague war crimes tribunal continued on Tuesday with
the questioning of Philip Watkins, a Briton from the European
Community's Monitoring Mission who often met with the defendant,
central Bosnian Operations Zone commander Tihomir Blaskic, during
his 1993 term in Bosnia-Herzegovina. #L#
The U.N. tribunal's Appeals Chamber is holding a two-week hearing
on 73 new pieces of evidence which the defence found after the
initial trial and which it claims change the facts outlined in the
verdict.
The hearing began yesterday behind closed doors. The defence called
two witnesses who testified under full protection.
Defence attorney Anto Nobilo has said he is satisfied with
yesterday's proceedings.
The defence will call seven witnesses. Next week the prosecution
and the defence will make closing arguments. The defendant will
also address the Appeals Chamber.
Blaskic was found guilty on 3 March 2000 and sentenced to 45 years in
jail for war crimes committed in Lasva Valley from mid-1992 to 1994,
the gravest of which was the April 1993 slaughter of some 100
Muslims in the village of Ahmici.
Blaskic has been in detention since 1 April 1996.
(hina) ha sb